Illuminated display device



Aug. 18, 1942. D. WOLFSON 2,293,185

ILLUMINATED DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Aug. 1, 1940 passes around [8 PatentedAug. 18, 1942 UNITED STATES. P TENT 1 OFFICE ILLUMINATED DISPLAY DEVICEDavid Wolfson, Far Rockaway, N. Y. Application August 1, 1940, SerialNo. 349,070

Claims. (CL 240-101) The improvements relate to a display apparatus forproducing varying colors and shades of colors upon any type ofmerchandise or other articles that it is desired to show to the public.

Heretofore cumbersome mechanism has been employed to give color blendingeffect to merchandise on display, involving sets of lights, gears,bearings, and fans. for cooling the lights when they are restricted bybeing enclosed in a box or projector. The present invention, however,solves these problems by utilizing a minimum of equipment and producinga maximum of efiiciency and color variation.

Referring to the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a display apparatus with the cover removed,embodying the improvements;

Fig, 2 is a front elevation of the display box showing merchandise inplace for lighting;

Fig. 3 is a perspective of an alternate method of using the displayapparatus; and

Fig. l is a plan of a modification showing the lighting and drivemechanism.

l is the box or housing within which the mechanism operates. 2 is thetop of the box which is hinged at 3 and has openings 4 to allow thelight to shine through on the merchandise 5 placed above the holes 4.The front of the box has a rectangular opening 6 which has afiixed onthree sides an angle strip 1 into which may be dropped any type ofpartially translucent ma-' terial containing advertising or otherreading matter. Run through the box I at the rear is ed on itvari-colored strips 20, 2|, 22 and 23 which are formed in spirals.

The operation of the display device is as follows:

The switch 8-is thrown, this lights up the element-l3 and starts thepulley wheel l5 and pulley belt [9 passing over the grooved collar Hithe colored cylinder [6 is slowly revolved, the merchandise to bedisplayed having been previously set or being now set over the holes ofthe hinged top 2. The light therefore passes from the lighting elementI3 through the cylinder I6 and out through the holes 4 and is cast uponthe merchandise. Due to the spiraling of the different strips of color20, 2|, 22

and 23 on the cylinder I 6 one end of the box I will be showing onecolor while the other end shows a different color and all in between thetwo will be a blend of colors which are slowly changing.

Fig. 3 shows the hinged lid 2 lifted slightly and held in place by thebrace 24 so that the light is reflected from the bottom of the lid 2directly onto merchandise placed behind the box. In this use theopenings of the cover may be closed in a suitable manner.

In Fig. 4 we see a modification in which the divided into two sectionslGa and I 622 and to the pulley wheel l5 hasbeen added a pulley wheeltogether with an additional pulley belt I911. The

V purpose of this is to produce blends of color an electric switch 8 andan electrical inlet 9.

Positioned within the box are a transformer l0, electrical plug contactsII and I2, a cold lighting element l3, which runs the length of the boxfrom the plug H to the plug I2. It will be here noted that a changeoflighting elements may be quickly accomplished by merely lifting thelighting element [3 from the sockets l I and I2 and inserting a new onein its place, II and i2 are open at the top.

At the rear of the box I and at one end is located a small geared motorM with a pulley IS on its shaft; Journaled on the lighting element I3and using it as a bearing is the cylinder l6 which has at its ends metalcollars l1 and I8 fitting loosely around the lighting element allowingfree and easy rotation of the cylinder l6 thereon. The collar I8 isgrooved at its inner end to receive the elastic pulley belt l9 which andaround the motor pulley I5. The cylinder I6 is made of transparent ortranslucent material and has impressed or paintwhich vary infinitely thesame hues and shades obtainable thereby being varied as the cylinders l6and to the What I claim is:

16a will not rotate at the same speed due different diameters of thepulleys l5 and 1. In a, lighting display device'of the type de-'scribed, a translucent cylinder and means for rotating the same, tubularmeans for producing light, said tubular means being within said cylinderand said cylinder being rotatably support.- ed thereon, and means fordirecting light through said cylinder and on articles to be displayed,said illuminating tube projecting beyond the ends of said cylinder.

2. In a lighting display device of the type described, a translucentcylinder and means for rotating the same, tubular means for producinglight, said tubular means being within said cylinder and said cylinderbeing rotatably supported thereon, and means for directing light throughsaid cylinder and on articles to be dis-- played, said illuminating tubeprojecting beyond motor [4. Through the- I511 of a greater diameter theends 0! said cylinder said cylinder having direct bearing thereon.

3. In a lighting display device or the type described, a translucentcylinder and means for rotating the same, tubular means for producinglight, said tubular means being within said cylinder and said cylinderbeing rotatably supported thereon, and means for directing light throughsaid cylinder and on articles to be displayed, said illuminating tubeprojecting beyond the ends of said cylinder and projecting light beyondthe ends thereof.

4. In a, device or the character described an attenuated illuminatingtube providing a source of light, a plurality of light transmittingcylinders Journaled thereon and means ior rotating said cylinders atdiflerent speeds, said cylinders having vari-colored spirate translucentstrips thereon. I

5. In a device of the character described an attenuated illuminatingtube providing a source 01' light, a plurality of light transmittingcylinders journaled thereon and means for rotating said cylinders atdifferent speeds irom a common source of power, said cylinders havingcolored translucent zones thereon.

DAVID WOLFSON.

